Review: Foul Is Fair by Hannah Capin

Title: Foul Is Fair
Author: Hannah Capin
Release Date: February 18, 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 336

Content Warnings: sexual assault, rape, rape culture, gender-based violence, abusive relationship, physical violence, gore, murder, bullying, transphobia, suicide, underage drinking, drug use, vigilantism, revenge

This post does contain affiliate links. I will receive a small amount from any purchases made through Book Depository at no extra cost to you.

Elle and her friends Mads, Jenny, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Elle’s sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Elle as their next target.

They picked the wrong girl.

Sworn to vengeance, Elle transfers to St. Andrew’s. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She’ll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school’s hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly.

Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Foul Is Fair was one of the most captivating books I’ve ever read.

Hannah Capin’s writing was vivid. Each sentence was succinct and filled with so much purpose. Capin ensures that Elle’s story demands the reader’s attention from the very beginning and makes sure it isn’t lost until the last page.

This book shines a light on a lot of important topics. It’s crucial that before reading you take a look at the content warnings. I was impressed and thankful to see that the author included the major ones at the beginning of the book as well as going into more detail on her website (linked above in my content warnings section).

Capin goes into a lot of detail and holds nothing back when it comes to difficult issues, which at times can be hard to read, but she also did in such a way that felt necessary and tactful. We need to be talking about the problems shown in the story, not simply brushing them under the rug, and this novel does that. It’s going to help start conversations for those that would rather turn a blind eye.

Once I picked this story up I really did have a hard time putting it down. It instantly hooked me and I found myself turning pages at a feverish pace. I didn’t love the ending, because it didn’t entirely feel fleshed out, but it also wasn’t the worst one I’ve ever read. Epilogues aren’t my favorite but one would have been appropriate in this situation.

If Foul Is Fair isn’t already on your TBR, then please stop reading this review and change that. You want to read this book. Typically, each year, I find myself recommending the same five books over and over again because I just can’t get them out of my head, and I think this is going to be one of them.

A physical ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.